The Michigan Economic Development Corp. ad that ran in the newspaper last week referenced the law, which makes it illegal to require financial support of a union as a condition of employment, above the Pure Michigan logo.

"I would not have been emphasizing one issue the way it was emphasized in that ad," Snyder told reporters Monday after a luncheon address to the Michigan Agri-Business Association.

"I would have preferred it had had a much broader definition," of what makes Michigan a desirable place to locate a business, including elements such as the elimination of the Michigan Business Tax in 2011, he said.

But Snyder said the popular Pure Michigan brand has been used for business promotion - on top of its former use for tourism promotion - for two years.

"They're professionals," and "I didn't review the ad" in advance, he said.

A Michigan Economic Development Corp. spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.

The ad, which officials said cost $144,000, brought a storm of criticism by marketing experts and others who said it could damage the Pure Michigan brand to associate it with a divisive issue such as the right-to-work law.

Snyder signed right-to-work legislation into law in December, five days after he came out in favor of it after saying for two years it was too divisive and not on his agenda. The Legislature passed it without public hearings during a demonstration at the Capitol that drew an estimated 12,500 people.

The job will pay $76,000 to $106,000 a year, depending on experience, said Steve Arwood, the department's acting director.

The new state official will be assisted by one, and possibly two, clerical workers, Arwood told the Detroit Free Press.

"We have to implement a new law, which is really no different than any time we get a new program," Arwood said. "This is a pretty significant law."

The officials will be responsible for preparing and distributing workplace notices about the law, which takes effect March 27, Arwood said.

"There will be a tremendous amount of employer and employee-related seminars, where someone from the state is expected to come and talk about the law," Arwood said.

Applicants for the job are expected to either be lawyers or have experience in legal research.

Democrats and a union official representing state employees criticized the creation of the new specialist and clerical positions.

"It's ridiculous," said Ray Holman, legislative liaison for UAW Local 6000, the largest state employee union. "I'm looking here every day seeing the people I represent doing the work of two or three people," in departments such as human services, Holman said.

"For that type of money, you could hire two DHS (Department of Human Services) front-line workers," who typically make about $44,000 a year, he said.

There has been considerable debate about what effect right-to-work legislation would have on attracting new employers and jobs and there have been conflicting studies around the nation. Snyder has said he is confident the change will boost employment in Michigan and said the Michigan Economic Development Corp. has noticed an uptick in inquiries from employers considering Michigan as a location.